Chapter 46: The Great Battle Of Branov Plains (3)
Soldiers wielding spears were lined up in a long rectangle, with the crossbowmen and mages positioned at each corner. This formation of my battalion was known as Tercio.
This specific formation was often described in historical texts, such as:
‘As imposing and formidable as a moving wall of stone, capable of fending off even a battalion of knights.’
Due to the tightly packed spearmen, who could effectively attack the advancing enemy infantry from a distance, this formation boasted an incredibly high defensive power.
This aligned with numerous scholarly articles, dramatic portrayals, and films.
In actual history, knights seldom dared to breach this formation. This led to the evolution of the ‘Caracole’ tactic, where they would fire their pistols from a barely reachable distance.
“Perish, you vile Chekovians!”
“You must be pitifully weak to succumb to such a minor attack!”
“Flails, advance! Urajcha!”
Spearmen, who couldn’t afford nearly 100% protective armor like knights, could be easily defeated, depending on the commander’s capabilities.
However, if one relinquished the formation to attack as the enemy faltered, it would increase the damage inflicted on our battalion.
“Each infantry captain is to take command of their soldiers. Gradually crush the enemies like a constricting wall.”
As a Battalion Commander, it was my duty to ensure that my soldiers maintained our strong formation and refrained from unruly behavior.
Upon delivering the command, I could hear the captains issuing their orders from a distance.
“The commander has given the order! 1st company, revise the formation!”
“Coordinate your spears’ movement! Strike and retract with precision!”
“Do not go too far, for Deus’ judgment awaits! Be vigilant!”
The soldiers who ventured too far hastily restored the formation and began to press forward slowly.
Meanwhile, the Chekovian infantry managed to recollect their bearings, but they had already suffered at least a 20% loss of their battalion.
Therefore, it was time to give my ever-loyal lieutenant an opportunity to prove his worth.
“Lieutenant Laura von Benner, lead a platoon from my direct command to support the 3rd Company now. If you apply what you’ve observed and learned from me, the enemy won’t stand a chance.”
With gratitude etched on her face, Laura responded to me.
“Thank you for this opportunity, Captain!”
She stepped away from me, unsheathed her sword, and took the command.
“1st platoon of the direct command, follow me to aid the 3rd Company! Move out!”
Laura, who played a significant role even in the original novel, would undoubtedly demonstrate her expertise here.
At that moment, a signal arrived from the vanguard cavaliers.
Interpreting the signal, it appeared that the enemy’s battalion-sized reinforcements had suffered from our knights’ attack and were now regrouping.
A typical commander would push the offense to annihilate the enemy battalion facing them upon learning about the incoming enemy reinforcements.
However, if I were the enemy commander, or someone of equivalent rank, I would send knights against our troops.
That was because a knight’s attack was a catastrophe that an infantry could stop without the right defenses.
Thus, I managed to counter over 500 troops coming to aid the Chekovia battalion in front of us with merely 12 knights.
“Messenger, urgently check if the enemy knights are advancing from our left flank and report back!”
“Yes, understood.”
Then, the messenger hastily galloped away from the battalion on his horse.
Even if we anticipated the enemy knights’ arrival and they wouldn’t show up, it was better than being caught off guard without any preparations.
In the meantime, the 3rd Company, reinforced by Laura and a platoon, was still slightly weaker than the other companies.
Nevertheless, they were maintaining formation with the battalion without any signs of collapsing.
The fact that they were still advancing indicated that the captain of the 3rd Company was quite capable.
Unmistakably, the most remarkable among them was Laura and her platoon, who went to support the 3rd Company.
“Follow me, Laura von Benner! Penetrate their weak spots and retreat uniformly! Plunge ahead fearlessly!”
She found the weakest point of the enemy unit, engaged with the 3rd Company, positioned herself at the forefront, and focused her platoon there, effectively reducing the enemy’s strength.
Each attack resulted in the demise of around four to seven enemy soldiers, which was a frightening number from the enemy’s perspective.
Then, Laura plunged deeper into enemy territory, and soon, a flag was waved, signifying a lieutenant had fallen.
A figure emerged.
And then a spear adorned with a feathered helmet came into view.
“Laura von Benner, the dedicated lieutenant of the Yaeger Battalion, has beheaded the Chekovian Lieutenant!”
After that, she returned to the 3rd Company and resumed the fight.
Given her impressive accomplishments on the first day, even if a promotion was hard to come by upon her return, she could at least anticipate receiving a Cross Medal.
Also, since we were exhibiting such proactive behavior, it was almost guaranteed that the enemy commander would dispatch knights to stop us.
As I shifted to the left in anticipation of the knights’ charge, the messenger I had sent came rushing back, seemingly validating my hunch.
“About fifty knights are closing in from 1.5km away! Fifty knights are approaching!”
Upon hearing the messenger’s report, our battalion, which was previously high-spirited, momentarily fell into despair.
“I, Peter Yaeger, will confront the knights. As such, all of you should act solely according to my directives so no one will get hurt!”
Upon making this statement, the battalion’s morale started to return, trusting in my assurance that the brilliant battalion character that I had portrayed would prevent them from dying.
“All companies, focus on containing the Chekovian infantry at this stage. Do not push too far ahead and strike. Maintain the formation, and when signaled with a horn blast and a flag, move to the left and lower your spears!”
Having said that, I moved to the left towards the enemies along with the main battalion.
I wanted to turn our formation towards the advancing knights, but the Chekovian infantry was in front of us, and our movement was restricted due to the presence of the allied infantry on our flank.
So, for about five to seven minutes, we readied ourselves for their arrival, pretending not to notice them.
And they arrived with the thunderous noise of more than fifty knights’ battle cries and their horses.
“Kill all the dogs of the Reich Empire!”
“We will send you to Deus!”
“Long live the Duke of Chekovia! Long live Chekovia!”
Seeing the heavily armored figures charging towards us with giant spears over three meters long, I felt a momentary fear.
Even so, these armored knights had their vulnerabilities, which we, as mere infantry, could exploit.
“Magicians and crossbowmen, only target their horses! The knights are too heavily armored. Aim for the horses’ flanks!”
Even these knights, who were like human tanks made of steel, only enjoyed their metallic protection on top. The horses they were riding were not equally shielded.
The horses only wore frontal armor, similar to breastplates, and even heavily armored cavalry horses were mostly covered with a single layer of chain mail.
Thus, an arrow could fatally wound a horse.
Aware of our readiness, the Chekovian knights continued their charge. They pressed on, both to save their fellow knights and for the honor of their order.
As they quickened their pace, adopting a wedge formation, they continued their approach.
“Now! Spearmen, face to the left! Crossbowmen and magicians, aim for their horses!”
With the release of magic and arrows, the knights’ horses began to collapse after taking a few hits.
Those who managed to endure and reach our lines were unable to penetrate our battalion’s wall of spears.
I was not certain about the extent of our damage, but I knew that those who had fallen would not rise again.
“Flail soldiers, aim for the dismounted knights and make them pay! Kill them all!”
At my command, each flail soldier began to strike at the knights with their flails.
The armored knights managed to endure to a certain extent, but those who were attacked by two or three soldiers inevitably fell and died.
From their ranks, some immediately retreated upon being dismounted, but they were eliminated by the magicians using fire-based magic like fireballs.
For the remaining knights, a nightmare of death unfolded.
Then, not long after, when almost all the knights had been vanquished, the order to retreat came for our battalion.
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